This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The best way to follow up the college football title game Monday? With some NHL DFS on Tuesday, of course! There are seven games on the slate for the league. The game between the Hurricanes and Flyers was a late postponement, so much so that contests had already opened when it happened. Be aware. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM at BUF ($39): What's better than having Vasilevskiy as your goalie? Vasilevskiy with a mostly full strength team in front of him. The Russian has a .923 save percentage this year after having a .925 save percentage last season. While the Sabres seem a smidge better, they still have only managed 2.62 goals and 29.6 shots on net per contest.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Thatcher Demko, VAN at FLA ($32): Demko has admittedly been great recently. Since the start of December he has an 1.75 GAA and .945 save percentage. However, he's a long way from home Tuesday, and this is a rather difficult road outing. The Panthers are second in goals per game (3.89) and first in shots on net per game (36.9). They don't make it easy on anybody.
CENTER
Mikael Granlund, NAS vs. COL ($18): Granlund has five points in his last six games, including one in each of his last three. Naturally, they were all assists. The Finn has 27 assists in 34 games, 11 of them on the power play. The Avalanche are the only team on the second leg of a back-to-back Tuesday. That's enough to get me to be enthused about Granlund in this matchup.
CENTER TO AVOID
Chandler Stephenson, VGK vs. TOR ($20): Stephenson has Mark Stone back on his wing, but Max Pacioretty is still out. He's also been a little less active recently, as he only has three shots on net in his last five contests. Even if he gets a few shots off against the Maple Leafs, Jack Campbell has an 1.99 GAA and .936 save percentage.
WING
Alex DeBrincat, CHI at CLM ($21): DeBrincat is racking up shots and goals. What else is new? He's potted 21 goals in 35 games with 109 shots on net. The Blue Jackets have given up 34.8 shots on goal per contest, so DeBrincat should rack up a few shots. Don't be surprised if he lights the lamp too, given the fact the Jackets have a 3.55 GAA.
Alexander Barabanov, SAN vs. DET ($18): Barabanov has been getting the chance to skate on San Jose's top line with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. That's a good place to be, and he has five points in his last six games. With that, he has 20 points in 31 contests. As for the Red Wings, they have a 3.36 GAA and have allowed 33.2 shots on net per game.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jake Guentzel, PIT at ANA ($29): Nothing against Guentzel, but this is a lofty salary, and he's far from home. Plus, even though John Gibson may not be able to play, it may not matter for the Ducks. Anthony Stolarz has a 2.22 GAA and .931 save percentage. On top of that, the Ducks have a top-five penalty kill.
Troy Terry, ANA vs. PIT ($18): Terry's improvement seems legitimate, but his 24.7 percent shooting is unsustainable. Nobody can really do that over a full season, and Terry came into this season with a career 8.8 percent rate. He'll need all the puck luck he can get against Tristan Jarry. Over his last 16 games he has an 1.49 GAA and .943 save percentage, and in that time he's allowed more than two goals only twice.
DEFENSE
Brent Burns, SAN vs. DET ($20): Burns is 36 now, but there's life left in his skates. He has eight points over his last eight contests. Oh, and he still shoots plenty, as he's put 96 shots on net in 36 games. Detroit has allowed 33.2 shots on net per contest, so that's boding well for Burns.
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. CHI ($18): Werenski is back from the COVID-19 protocols, and he immediately played 27:20 on Saturday, including 4:18 on the power play. Overall, he's seen 3:09 per game with the extra man, and he has seven power-play points. The Blackhawks have a bottom-eight penalty kill, and on top of that over his last seven games Marc-Andre Fleury has a 3.12 GAA and .902 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Devon Toews, COL at NAS ($24): As I mentioned, the Avalanche are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. They are the only team in such a position. That could slow Toews a step, and Juuse Saros has a 2.21 GAA and .929 save percentage.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. TAM ($17): Dahlin has really bounced back from a tough season last year, but Vasilevskiy didn't need to bounce back. He's as steady as any goalie. As I mentioned, he has a .923 save percentage. This is not a matchup I want any part of.
